Compare towns
Hamlin vs Java vs Phelps vs Clarkson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamlin has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Phelps has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Clarkson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hamlin | Java | Phelps | Clarkson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,652Highest |
2,049Lowest |
6,624 |
6,810 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.7Lowest 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.4±4.8Highest 12% above NY |
42.7±3.7 7% above NY |
| Phelps and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Phelps and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Phelps and Clarkson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.6% NY: 40.2% |
28%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Phelps and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,510±$9k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$80,262±$13kLowest 7% below NY |
$83,286±$15k 3% below NY |
| Java and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$166,300±$10k 61% below NY |
$207,000±$24k 51% below NY |
| Java and Clarkson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$137 34% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,124±$95Highest 31% below NY |
$1,084±$99 33% below NY |
| Phelps and Clarkson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,343 34% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$3,932 40% below NY |
$5,146Highest 22% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±14.2 NY: 52.1% |
27.8%±17.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Hamlin and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
7.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
66.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
1988Highest 29 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
28 minHighest 14% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #197 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.